Saved by the Boy
Shōnen ni yoru hozon
少年による保存
If you had asked 20 year old Bulma Briefs about her day two weeks ago she'd probably say 'Nothing exciting happened really. What about you?' But ask her now and it would be a different story...
It all started one morning; Bulma opened her eyes, sighing wearily as she got up from her warm and cosy bed. She dragged herself to the bathroom and turned on the tap. Cupping the water in her hands she splashed the cool water over her face, her top getting sprayed with the stray water. Looking up at herself in the mirror she smiled.
"Well Bulma" she said to herself. "You're looking great as always." She smiled and washed again. The mirror seemed to steam up as she poured hot water into the sink. Without a thought she wiped the mirror, considering what type of Capsule she'd create today. Maybe a first aid capsule or...
She froze in fear at the man standing behind her, his face hidden in the shadows.
At first she thought she was dreaming. And the figure was something her imagination was thinking up. She wanted to move, but she was forced to look. Just look.
'Who's that?' she thought, she shivered all over. 'How'd he get in here?'
Breaking free of her fear, she turned around. She thought she'd frighten the man and escape but when she went to face him, he had vanished from sight. Bulma looked around the room; it was silent apart from her panicked breathing. She wiped her forehead and sighed in relief.
"It must've been my imagination" she laughed nervously.
Day after day she noticed the man.; always standing behind her. In every reflection she happened to gaze upon. If she looked in a shop window to see a pretty dress, he'd be there. Looking straight at her.
She considered whether to call the police, but it was when she tried to look at him that he vanished before her eyes.
"Why don't you tell someone?" said Chi Chi one day, she and Bulma had gone to get coffee at the cafe. It had gotten late.
"Like I told you before, every time I looked at him he'd vanish" said Bulma. "If I told the police they'd think I was crazy."
Chi Chi took a sip of her coffee and looked up at the ceiling in thought.
"I don't know what to do" she said.
"Nor do I" muttered Bulma, this whole conversation was proving to be pointless. Bulma took a final gulp of her coffee and rested her head on her hand. She gazed out of the window and at the stars above. She was so confused, what had she done to deserve this?
As she considered this she looked around the cafe. Maybe it was better to tell someone than to do nothing at all.
She looked back out of the window and her eyes met a familiar sight. She gasped and pointed.
"Chi Chi... look!"
Chi Chi turned in the direction she was pointing at. She looked confused as she stared at the man that was standing in the alleyway across the street, his face still hidden. It seemed that he was doing his best to stay hidden.
"Well it's not someone I know" she said, "But that's the guy huh?"
The man turned away and walked into the darkness of the alleyway. Bulma stood up from the table and ran out of the cafe, leaving Chi Chi alone.
'He didn't vanish this time huh?' Bulma thought as she ran after the stranger, he seemed incredibly fast.
"WAIT UP!" she cried without much thought. "I need to know why you keep following me!?"
The man turned. A strange feeling came over her as she looked at the man; it was as if he had some strange power about him. He seemed like someone she shouldn't mess with.
"W...well?" she asked, trembling slightly "What do you want with me?"
He seemed to laugh. Then he spoke, his voice seeming light hearted but full of power. She rubbed her arms nervously.
"Sorry for being so mysterious, but I can't say anything." He lifted his hand at her.
"Stay still."
Bulma didn't have time to react as a blast of blue light sped past her face, missing by inches.
She screamed and fell to the hard pavement looking back as a nearby bin burst into flames. She was speechless and more frightened as the man held out his hand again.
She closed her eyes tight; hoping to find herself back in her house, hoping that all this was just a bad dream.
She could hear the sound as the energy built up, over in her mind the idea of death seemed too close. Suddenly there was a grunt and the sound of the energy stopped abruptly. Opening one of her eyes she saw the tall stranger topple over and there was someone new. He looked strong but shorter than the other stranger. She heard his confidant voice say something but she couldn't make out what he said as she fainted in relief. She was safe for now.
"You awake woman?"
The voice seemed to bring her back to reality. Opening her eyes slowly she met the face of a young boy. His hair like a black flame and three locks of bangs hanging down his forehead. His narrow, yet innocent looking eyes stared at her.
"W... What?" Bulma muttered, she sat up and was surprised to find herself back in her home. "How did I...?"
"I carried you" said the boy casually, sitting cross legged on her bed. "You were a little heavy but I've carried worse."
Bulma clenched her hands, "I'm not that heavy I'll have you know!" she snapped.
The boy shrugged his shoulders. Bulma couldn't find herself being angry at him for long, after all he looked extremely cute. She smiled and ruffled his hair. He quickly shoved her off.
"What're you doing!?" he snapped back, his face turning a little red.
Bulma laughed again "Nothing. Anyway..."
Her voice was serious again, "What happened out there?"
"You were attacked" he told her. "So I saved you."
Bulma laughed. She remembered a full grown man save her; the kid was obviously lying or trying to be a hero of some sort. But his flamed hair did seem to resemble her rescuer...
"Don't laugh woman!" he scorned at her.
Bulma stopped, his tone seemed very commanding. She smiled instead, that's all she could do.
"Well, I'm Bulma Briefs" she said. "Who're you then?"
The boy shuffled on the bed, "Prince Vegeta."
Bulma almost laughed again, but after seeing the stern look Vegeta gave her she stopped at once. She got off her bed and stretched, everything seemed to strange to be real. But Vegeta was cute so she felt like she could accept his company. She looked at the young prince on the bed (he was lying down and thinking.)
"What's that around your neck?"
"Something not for human eyes" was all he said.
"Human?
"Yes. I'm Saiyan, you're human."
'What's a Saiyan?' she thought to herself.
He got up with a small jump. Landing in front of Bulma he looked up. Bulma couldn't help giggling as she saw how small he was.
'He must be about 7' she thought to herself. 'He's probably lost or something along those lines...' She patted him on the head again, making his face go redder than before. He shook her off again and stared at her again.
"I'm hungry" snapped Vegeta. "Get me food 'bodyguard'!"
Bulma ended up screaming at this remark, "Excuse me, but I am not your..."
She froze when she saw the energy in his hand glowing a brilliant bright purple. Bringing back memories from last night's attack she did not want to end up killed.
"Uh... as you command... your highness"
As she walked to the kitchen she cried to herself.
"What have I gotten myself into?"
A/N: Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Sorry that the convo at the end drags on but I really couldn't think of anything else. I may rewrite but other than that read and review. It all helps me!
